Home installations



Sept. 1, 1959 G. G. ROTHENSTEIN HOME INSTALLATIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 5, 1946 Sept. 1, 1959 G. G. ROTHENSTEIN 2,901,780

HOME INSTALLATIONS Original Filed April 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Guy 6.2otFzer2etez'r2, firm/saber bgmatb rneg Sept. 1, 1959 e. G. ROTHENSTEIN 2,901,780-

HOME INSTALLATIONS Original Filed April 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gus zoiheneteirz' snvenbor Sept. 1, 1959 G. G. ROTHENSTEIN 2,901,780

HOME INSTALLATIONS Original Filed April 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Guy G. foibensiez'n S'Srzvenior Unite HOME INSTALLATIONS Guy G. Rothenstein, Forest Hills, N.Y.

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-111) The present application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 659,817, filed April 5, 1946.

The present invention relates to home installations. More specifically, the invention is concerned with improvements in so-called prefabricated structural units such as prefabricated bathrooms, washrooms, home laundries, kitchens, and the like fixture installations requiring plumbing fixtures, which are designed and constructed by the factory in such a manner that they may be readily applied to buildings in existence or under construction.

I-Ieretofore, prefabricated installations of the type specified consisted in general of complete units or blocks including as such aside from the essential fixtures and plumbing connections, sidewalls, floor area and room volume comprising and requiring a definite space and a definite location of the access doors. These units manufactured in mass production generally satisfy the requirements of low cost and speedy construction essential for prefabricated housing. However, the units have several serious drawbacks. In the first place they must be installed at a definite place in accordance with a uniform layout plan of the house. The individual fixtures such as bathtub, basin, toilet, shower, stove, etc. are not exchangeable chiefly because they are parts of complete blocks, prefabricated and delivered as such by the factory. The installation of the units in existing houses usually requires extensive reconstruction work since most of the units do not pass through doors of normal size. Quite generally, the units do not suit the needs and tastes of users, which differ widely in number and character. Moreover, these relatively large and rigid blocks are very inconvenient to handle during shipment and installation and require enormous storage space in the course of mass production. They are also unpopular with plumbing contractors and labor because they involve revolutionary working methods.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and affords various additional advantages as will be apparent from the more detailed description hereinafter read in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates various embodiments and details of the invention in diagrammatical, isometrical and perspective views.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide improved home installations which although prefabricated and standardized in mass production, may be installed in accordance with the individual needs of the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved home installations of the type specified which may be installed in houses of any desired layout plan without requiring changes of the installations or of the building layout.

'A still further object of this invention is to provide States Patent improved installations of the type specified which permit a ready exchange of individual fixtures, the addition of new fixtures, and which pass through normal sized doors of homes and apartment houses.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, prefabricated bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, home laundries and the like home installations are composed of angular, preferably substantially rectangular, vertical panel units supporting one or more desired fixtures across the angle formed by two panel sides. These units, hereinafter called fixture panels preferably comprise a single vertical panel of structural material such as metal, wood, plastics, etc. bent or otherwise formed in such a manner that two vertical sections or side panels include any desired angle, an angle of or more being preferred in most cases. The fixture is arranged within and across that angle and may be supported by either one or both of the vertical side panels and/ or by the angular panel section, which may be suitably reinforced, if desired.

As a result of the angular form of my fixture panel, the structural strength of the vertical panel sections and of the entire panel unit is greatly increased and the supporting points of the fixture may be so close together that floor supports for the fixtures may be dispensed with and material of relatively small thickness, strength, and weight may be used. The useful space around and in front of the fixtures of my fixture panels is greatly increased as compared with conventional arrangements because the size of this useful space is a function of the length of a diagonal of the rectangle defined by the panel edges and a diagonal is longer than any side of a rectangle. Also, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that my angular fixture panels may be used in most cases for either right hand or left hand layouts, as desired, without any change of plumbing connections or fixture arrangement.

A separate angular fixture panel may be provided for each principal fixture and these fixture panels may be combined in various ways at the place of installation. For example, a bathroom containing several fixtures such as bathtub, toilet, shower, etc. in one undivided room may thus be formed in a simple manner; or several compartments containing one or more fixtures each separated by a side panel of my angular fixture panels, may be set up. In order to provide continuous walls of the same material, connecting panels of various dimensions and forms, which do not carry any fixture, may complete these installations.

In accordance with a more specific modification of one of the aforementioned embodiments of my invention I may arrange two or more of my angular fixture panels with their apexes adjacent and rotatably attached to a central vertical shaft to form an aggregate similar in design to a revolving door, permitting access to the individual, completely separated fixtures through a single door by a suitable rotation of the revolving aggregate. The fixture panels may be attached to each other and to the central shaft and may clear the floor completely, which may run without interruption beneath all fixtures, so that merely a central support for the shaft is required rather than a revolving platform or floor supporting the fixtures and/or wall panels as has been suggested heertofore in connection with similar revolving fixture installations.

In general, I prefer to design my fixture panels substantially lower in height than the wall height of the average room. In this manner, the fixture panels may be installed in buildings of any type whether in existence or under construction. Special foot pieces may be provided to be attached to the lower rim of the fixture panel to support the latter above the floor at one or more points in any suitable manner known per se. Similar known means may be used to fasten the top portion of the fixture panel to the ceiling or walls of the room in which it is installed. The space between the lower panel rim and the floor of the room may be filled in with any suitable material, such as tiles, or the like, while the top of the fixture panel may be provided with a false ceiling to form together with the room ceiling an empty space wherein various fixture accessories such as flush tanks, water heaters, exhausts, air-conditioning, ventilators, etc. may be arranged.

Having set forth the general nature and objects, my invention will be best understood from the more detailed description hereinafter, in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is an isometrical view of a preferred embodiment of a fixture panel;

Figs. 2ak are schematic views of various examples of useful fixture panels for different purposes;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic floor-plan view of a typical fixture panel aggregate forming a conventional type bathroom;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a revolving fixture panel aggregate;

Fig. 5a is a similar view of a fixture panel aggregate forming various separately accessible compartments in line containing different fixtures; and

Fig. 5b is a perspective front view of the aggregate shown in Fig. 5a.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows by way of example a fixture panel which comprises essentially two vertical panels, 1 and 1a, connected by, and attached at 3, to a middle piece 4 bent so that panels land In. include an angle of about 90. A fixture, for example a water closet, 6, is secured to both panels 1 and 1a in any suitable manner known per se, for example welded, bolted, stmiped in or the like. It will be understood that a single panel of a width corresponding to the combined widths of panels 1, la and 4 may be bent to the shape shown in the drawing. The height of the panel unit 1, 4, 1a preferably approximates that of a normal bathroom door or of the water-resistant wall lining of a usual bathroom. In this manner the panel combination may also replace the usual wall lining of the bathroom. The width of the straight side panels 1 and la and the bent middle piece 4 may be standardized at any modular size, say at about l030 inches each. Panels l and la may be bent back at their free vertical edges to form U-shaped flanges 2 which may be used to attach the fixture panel to another similar panel, a straight wall panel, a stud, a column, a door frame, or the like, by any known means such as bolts, rivets, screws, etc. Flanges 2 may be provided with extension angle-irons 8 and 9 at the bottom and top, which may serve to secure the fixture panel to the room floor and ceiling respectively by any suitable fastening means 10. If desired, similar additional securing means may be attached to the top and/ or bottom of middle piece 4. Other suitable methods and means of securing the fixture panel to floor, ceiling and walls may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not wish to be limited to the specific securing means shown in the drawing. Quite generally my fixture panels may abut the inner surface of an outer wall of the house or partition walls or they may form parts of partition walls which may comprise other free or fixture-carrying panels, such as kitchen panels, or the like.

Flanges 2 are preferably provided with a series of alternating small and large holes 11 and 12, respectively, which may be used to receive securing means or to ad mit and support horizontal piping as indicated at 13, 14, 15 and 16. Horizontal pipes may also pass above or beneath the panel installation. The principal drain-pipe 17 of fixture 6, or other fixture part of an installation, is preferably arranged in the back and bottom portion of the bent middle piece 4. The connecting points of the supply piping to be attached to the water main are preferably located in the back of the fixture panel adjacent the apex of the panel angle. In this manner the piping connections may be conveniently made from any desired direction.

The middle piece 4 may be removably attached to panels El and 1a and, if desired, to suitable reinforcements by means of screws or belts, or the like, or it may be provided with a door in order to permit access to the piping and panel connections from the front. When a door is provided in middle piece 4, a closet or cabinet 5 may be arranged in the back of piece 4, to be used for towels, laundry, toilet articles, medicines, etc. This door may also be built as a straight mirror. 1

The upper horizontal edge of the fixture panel may likewise be provided with holes 11 which may be used to secure a false ceiling 18 to the top of the fixture panel. Ceiling 18 may have perforations 19 for exhaust, ventilation or air-conditioning and may support illuminating means 20. In case fixture 6 is a shower basin, ceiling 18 may support a shower nozzle in place of or in addition to illuminating means 20.

Light or power switches, plugs for electric current, paper dispensers, pedals for toilet flushing and seat lifting, holders and racks for soap, towels, glasses, and similar accessories may be arranged in the fixture panels at suitable places as indicated at 21, 30 and 31, in accordance with the purpose of the specific fixture involved.

Reference will now be made to Figs. 2a-k which illustrate schematically the manner in which fixture panels of the type described above may be applied in principle to some of the most usual bathroom fixtures. Fig. 2a shows a water closet fixture panel. Fig. 2b is a similar View of a bidet panel. Fig. 2c is a wash-basin panel, and Fig. 2d a dressing table panel. Figs. 2e and 2 illustrate the arrangement of shower cabinets in accordance with my invention. Figs. Zg-Zi show various modifications of fixture panel arrangements for bathtubs, such as an end tub (Fig. 2g), a left or right-hand tub (Fig. 211) and a left or right-hand tub combined with a Wash-basin panel (Fig. 2i). Figs. 2k and 2k illustrate connecting panels of various shapes without fixtures.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I have shown therein a typical bathroom which is composed essentially of fixture panels in accordance with the present invention. P are partition walls and O is an outside wall, defining together the space available for the bathroom within the house. D is the door and W the window of the bathroom. Three main fixtures, namely, a water closet a, a wash-basin c and an end-tub g are arranged utilizing the four corners of the bathroom so as to leave the maximum useful space for the user. The main fixtures a, c, and g are supported solely by bent fixture panels 301a, 301a and 301g which are secured by means of extension flanges 302a, 302a and 302g to the floor and ceiling of the bathroom leaving free spaces beneath and above the fixture panels, in a manner generally similar to that outlined in connection with the fixture panel shown in Fig. 1. The adjacent vertical flange edges 302a and 3022c are connected by and secured to a straight connecting panel 335 by any suitable means. The straight back panels of the tub fixture panels 301g may be formed by a single piece 320 or may be composed of three parts similar to the straight back panel connecting fixture panels 301a and 301a. Cabinets or closets 395a, 3050 and 305g for any desired purpose may be arranged in the free corner spaces in the rear of fixture panels 301a, 301c and 301g.

Various fixture accessories may be arranged on or in the prefabricated fixture and connection panels, for example a recessed paper dispenser 330 and a flushing pedal 331 in panel 301a, a recessed soap holder 332, electric switch and plug 333 in fixture panel 3010, a recessed soap holder 334, Water faucets for hot and cold water 337, drain-valve handle 336, body supports 339, shower 338, and shower curtain rail 340 in fixture panel 301g, and a recessed towel rack in connection panel 335.

. A stack 317 for the main water drain and supply pipes may advantageously be located in back of the apex of water closet fixture panel 301a. Electric wiring, piping for cold and hot water, and water drain pipes may be arranged behind the fixture panels in a free space left between panel and wall, as schematically indicated at 313, 314, 315 and 316, respectively.

It will be readily appreciated that the individual fixture panels 301a, 3010 and 301g together with their fixtures a, c and g and all their built-in accessories form a combination which compared to conventional bathrooms affords greater convenience for the user, may be more quickly and economically installed, and is more hygienic and uniform of design. Compared to the prefabricated bathroom systems, it is easier to handle, allows liberty of planning, and is more acceptable for contractors and labor.

Fig. 4 illustrates the arrangement of a revolving bathroom composed of four of the fixture panels of my invention. Bent fixture panels 401a, 4010, 401e and 401d are arranged in a circular fashion with their apexes adjacent to the stationary or revolving central main drain pipe 417 which may be provided With one or more ball bearings supporting the circular revolving fixture panel aggregate in any suitable manner known to the expert. If desired, the fixture panel aggregate may be rigidly secured to pipe 417 and the latter may be designed as a revolving shaft or a separate revolving shaft may be provided to support the fixture panel aggregate in a man ner which may be chosen in accordance with specific conditions by any skilled engineer.

The fixture panels which clear the floor and ceiling may be secured to each other with their adjacent side panels and form the sole support for fixtures a, c, e and d, as explained in connection with Fig. l. Fixture a may be a water closet, fixture c a wash-basin, fixture e a shower cabinet and fixture d a dressing table. By rotation around axis 417, all fixtures may be brought to face any one of the entrances HI, IV, V and VI and used through these entrances without any interference with the privacy of the respective users. Accesses III-VI may open into four different rooms or may be separated by suitable partitions, as indicated on the drawing. Rubber blades may be attached to the lower rims of the panels in order to bridge the space between these lower rims and the floor, in a fashion similar to revolving door arrangements.

The necessary wiring and piping are preferably arranged within the free axial space formed by the apexes of the bent fixture panels as indicated at 413, 414, 415, 416 and 417. Fixture accessories of any desired type and number may be provided in or on the individual prefabricated fixture panels.

The revolving aggregate of Fig. 4 may be composed of one or more standard panel fixtures of the type described in Fig. 1, and set up in any existing room without requiring appreciable changes or any specific house design.

In order further to illustrate the practically unlimited flexibility of the utility of my fixture panels, I have shown in Figs. 5a and 5b, respectively, sectional and perspective views of an aggregate wherein my fixture panels form several, for example, three, separate compartments in a linear arrangement. Like reference symbols are used in Figs. 5a and 5b to designate like parts.

The aggregate shown in Figs. 5a and 5b may comprise fixture panels 501i combining the tub and wash-basin, a bidet fixture panel 5011b, and a water closet fixture panel 501a, as well as the necessary connection panels 501k and 50116 equipped with closets 505.

It will be readily understood from the drawing that the back wall of the total aggregate is formed of adja- 6 cent sections of fixture panels, while opposite sections of the fixture panels are used as partitions separating the various fixtures. The individual compartments may open into different rooms and thus be used by several people simultaneously with complete privacy.

The spaces formed behind the panels apexes may be used to accommodate cabinets or closets 505. The fixture panels clear the floor by the height of a baseboard 507, and the ceiling by the height of a free top space 530. Suitable flanged fastening means are used to secure the fixture panels to each other and to floor and ceiling, in a manner similar to that outlined in connection with Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The free top space 530 may be separated from the useful fixture space by a false ceiling 518 provided with ventilation and/or illuminating openings 520. Fixture accessories such as a hot water heater or tank 541, a toilet flush tank 542, an air exhaust fan 543, and the like may be located in free space 530.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description of the basic idea of my invention and the various specific examples of its application illustrated by the drawing, that my individual fixture panels may be readily prefabricated in mass production of standard sizes and standard equipment, conveniently stored and easily shipped. The installation may be carried out by hand without requiring mechanical lifting and shifting devices. The panels easily pass through room doors of conventional size. The fact that each individual fixture panel is provided with all necessary connecting piping and wiring and completely supports its main fixture and all fixture accessories Without substantially affecting floor, ceiling or Walls of the room greatly facilitates its installation and connection to other fixture panels or the plumbing of the building.

The novel features of my invention afford sufficient spaciousness even in rooms offering a minimum of floor space. These features in combination with the great flexibility in the placement of the fixture panels and the arrangements of entire fixture aggregates contribute essentially to the convenience of the user of facilities provided in accordance with my invention.

Various modifications other than those described above may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Particularly, I do not wish to be limited to the specific means of securing the fixture panels to each other and to the various parts of the building, nor to the specific combinations and aggregates of fixture panels and fixture accessories described and shown in the drawing.

The scope of my invention is not intended to be limited by any of the specific examples given above but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable fixture installation comprising a pair of flat vertical side panels, a vertical connecting panel bent around on a quarter circle, said connecting panel disposed intermediate said side panels and connecting the same, all of said panels being separate from any room structure, and being attachable thereto; a plumbing fixture mounted on the lower portions of said side panels, said side panels also being provided with flanges at their outer edges, and means extending beyond the ends of said flanges and the upper and lower edges of the panels for attaching the same to the floor and ceiling of a room; and a perforated false ceiling fixed to all of said panels at the upper edges thereof.

2. Detachable fixture installation means comprising an integrally movable vertical unitary plate substantially of room height and separate from any room structure, said plate being attachable to the corner of a room structure and having flat side portions and an integral vertical middle portion bent around a vertical axis to form a blunt vertical corner and two integral vertical substantially straight Wing portions continuing said middle portion on either side to include said corner, said corner being open at the bottom, and a fixture constituting a receptacle forming a partition extending horizontally across at least a substantial portion of the area in said corner between said Wing portions, said fixture being fully supported by at least one of said portions; and means for detachably securing said plate to a room structure in a corner thereof, said securing means comprising vertical flanged means integral With the free vertical trims of said Wing portions and brackets extending beyond the ends of said flanged means, said securing means being adapted to secure the plate in a vertical position Within a room at a distance from the floor and ceiling of the room.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Torrance May 17, 1904 Brewington -1. Feb. 21, 1928 t Gugler Apr. 21, 1936 Holdsworth Jan. 18, 1938 Killion Apr. 19, 1938 Weinland Jan. 31, 1939 Scott Ian. 6, 1942 Lichtor Oct. 13, 1942 Lankton 1 Apr. 22, 1947 Anderson Mar. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1935 

